Laurel J. "Lori" Trautt

DULUTH - Laurel J. "Lori" Trautt, 50, of Hibbing, Minn., formerly of Chippewa Falls, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2009, in St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.

She was born in Kane County, Ill. on Oct. 20, 1958, to Russell and Peggy (Granger) Smith. She grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Whitehall High School in Whitehall. Lori married Tom Trautt on Nov. 6, 1996, in New Lisbon.

She worked at H & R Block for 13 years as a professional tax preparer and in the Hibbing office for the last year and a half. Lori was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Hibbing. She was a collector of many things, loved camping, snowmobiling, motorcycles, cooking, scrabble, animals, crocheting, cross stitch and spending time with her family and friends, especially being a grandmother.

She was preceded in death by: her mother Peggy in 2001; and a son Eric Pettis in 2007.

She is survived by: her husband Tom; a daughter Kimberly (Derreck) Corradi of Hibbing; a son Steven Pettis of Hibbing; her father Russell (Linda) Smith of Kelly Lake, Minn.; granddaughter Sienna Corradi of Hibbing; and many loved ones, family and friends.

Visitation will be from noon until the 1 p.m. memorial service Saturday, April 25 in First Lutheran Church. 2201 3rd Ave East, Hibbing, Minn. Rev John Dietz officiating. Burial will be in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner.

A memorial benefit will also be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 17 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Chippewa Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Laurel Trautt Memorial Fund, c/o Royal Credit Union, 215 Bay St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 would be appreciated.